Community Service as a Penal Measure: Institutional Perceptions and Challenges in its Practical Implementation

Main Article Content

Lara Relva
Eva Chaves
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0760-8513
Mónica Teixeira
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2625-4765
Cristiana Almeida
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6269-7120

Abstract

This article analyzes the perceptions of social reintegration
professionals and host institutions regarding the community service order as an alternative sanction to imprisonment. This sanction, established in Portuguese legislation, is applied to less serious offenses. Based on this
framework, the study aims to examine the perceptions of Senior Social Reintegration Technicians (TSRS) and recipient entities concerning the community service measure,  exploring its advantages, limitations, and challenges in practical implementation, while also reflecting on its  potential as a tool for social reintegration. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining 49 questionnaire surveys administered to beneficiary institutions with 5 interviews conducted with senior social reintegration technicians from a Regional Delegation team in Central Portugal. The results indicate that, despite a broad acknowledgment of the measure’s usefulness, there are notable limitations to its implementation—namely, lack of monitoring, noncompliance by beneficiaries, and increased burdens on host institutions. The study concludes that, while the measure can be effective in specific contexts,
it requires improvements in its application and follow-up.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
RELVA, L.; CHAVES, E.; TEIXEIRA, M.; ALMEIDA, C. Community Service as a Penal Measure: Institutional Perceptions and Challenges in its Practical Implementation. Emancipação, Ponta Grossa - PR, Brasil., v. 25, p. 1–17, 2025. DOI: 10.5212/Emancipacao.v.25.2523239.037. Disponível em: https://revistas.uepg.br/index.php/emancipacao/article/view/23239. Acesso em: 27 jan. 2026.
Section
Artigos
Author Biographies

Lara Relva, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário do Porto - Portugal

Licenciada em Serviço Social pela Universidade Lusófona – Centro Universitário do Porto - Faculdade de Ciências Económicas, Sociais e da Empresa – FCESE. E-mail: a22005102@mso365.ulp.pt.

Eva Chaves, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário do Porto - Portugal

Eva Chaves is a graduate in Social Service of the Catholic University of Braga (2007). She obtained her Masters in Psychology of Justice and Deviant Behavior at the Catholic University of Porto (2010) and her Doctorate in Psychology of Justice at Fernando Pessoa University (2013) with the thesis "Children exposed to interparental violence: consequences on their developmental path and adaptation to the social environment". She has a PhD in social work from the University of Coimbra and the Catholic University of Lisbon (2023). The study on the social reintegration of ex-prisoners continues to be the focus of her research. Eva is a University professor since 2018. Her teaching activity began at Lusófona – Porto University Center, an institution where she is Assistant Professor. He develops his research activity at the Intrepid Lab, which was recently integrated as a hub of CETRAD – Center for Transdisciplinary Studies for development.

Mónica Teixeira, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário do Porto - Portugal

Mónica Alexandra Vidal Teixeira, Assistant Professor at Lusófona University. Currently, she teaches in the Bachelor's program in Social Work in the Master's program in Social Gerontology: Quality of Gerontological Programs and Services. Throughout her professional journey, she has been engaged in teaching activities at the Higher Institute of Social Work in Porto from 2018 to 2019 and 2020, serving as an Invited Assistant Professor (full-time/part-time) in the Social Gerontology program, and as a Guest Assistant (part-time) in the Gerontology program at the University of Aveiro from 2005 to 2011. Her professional background also encompasses roles in Technical Direction/Social Work in Private Institutions of Social Solidarity from 1998 to 2021. Currently, she is pursuing an Interuniversity Ph.D. in Social Work at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of Coimbra and the Catholic University of Lisbon. She holds a Specialist Title in the field of Social Work and Guidance from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (2017), a Ph.D. in Gerontology from the University of Aveiro/Abel Salazar Higher Institute of Porto (2016), a Master's degree in Gerontology from the University of Aveiro (2008), and a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the Miguel Torga Higher Institute (1998). Recently, she has joined as a researcher at the Intrepid Lab, part of the Center for Transdisciplinary Studies for Development (CETRAD). Her primary research interest lies in the diverse areas encompassed by Social Work and Gerontology, particularly focusing on Aging.

 

Cristiana Almeida, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário do Porto - Portugal

PhD in Social Work from the Faculty of Humanities of the Portuguese Catholic University and the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Coimbra (Interuniversity Doctoral Program in Social Work)-2022, with a thesis titled "Network Governance in Local Territories: from ideal to reality. Analysis of the Social Care and Support Service." Doctoral Research Fellow (reference SFRH/BD/132279/2017) funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (2017-2022). Master's degree in Sociology - specialization in local policies and decentralization: the new areas of the social (2009) (Master's thesis titled "Domestic Violence. What policies?") and Bachelor's degree in Sociology (2002) (Final Seminar in Sociology of Administration and Local Power on the theme of Partnerships and Local Development), at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra. Currently holds the position of Assistant Professor/Director of the bachelor's degree in social work at Lusófona University - University Centre of Porto. Conducts research activities at the Intrepid Lab - CETRAD - Centre for Transdisciplinary Studies for Development. Previously served as Assistant Professor in the bachelor's degree in social work at the Miguel Torga Higher Institute (2022/2023); at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Catholic University of Braga (2021/2022); and Guest Lecturer/Assistant Professor (2018-2022) at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Published articles in specialized journals on social policies, network governance, social intervention, social innovation, and social impact assessment. Works in the field(s) of Social Sciences with an emphasis on Sociology, Social Work, Social Affairs, Other Social Science, and Political Sciences.

References

ALBUQUERQUE, Paulo Pinto. Comentário do Código Penal. Leya, 2018.

ALMEIDA, Henrique. Prestação de trabalho a favor da comunidade como pena principal. Dissertação (Mestrado). Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, Mestrado em Direito, Coimbra, 2012.

BONOTTO, Danusa de Lara., KRIPKA, Rosana Maria Luvezute & SCHELLER, Morgana. Pesquisa Documental: considerações sobre conceitos e características na Pesquisa Qualitativa. V. 2: Atas – Investigação Qualitativa na Educação. CIAIQ, 2015. Recuperado de Pesquisa Documental: considerações sobre conceitos e características na Pesquisa Qualitativa | CIAIQ2015

CERA, Cristina. O Trabalho a Favor da Comunidade: Um Estudo de Caso. Dissertação (Mestrado). Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto, Mestrado em Ciências Jurídicas Forenses, Coimbra, 2012. Disponível em: https://comum.rcaap.pt/bitstream/10400.26/29509/1/O%20Trabalho%20a%20Favor%20da%20Comunidade_Um%20Estudo%20de%20Caso.pdf

CHAVES, Eva, SANTOS, Clara & DUARTE, Vera. Trajetórias criminais e reinserção social de ex‑reclusos/as em Portugal: uma revisão da literatura. Revista Libertas, 22(1) 234‑253, 2022.

COUTINHO, Clara Pereira. Metodologia de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas: teoria e prática. 2ª edição- Reimpressão. Almedina, 2015.

DIAS, Jorge Figueiredo. Direito Penal Português – Parte Geral II - As consequências jurídicas do crime. Coimbra: Coimbra Editora, 2005.

Direção-Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais. (27 de Março de 2023). Penas e Medidas na Comunidade - Desenvolvimento histórico. Obtido de Direção-Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais: https://dgrsp.justica.gov.pt/Justi%C3%A7a-de-adultos/Penas-e-medidas-na-comunidade/Desenvolvimento-hist%C3%B3rico.

FERNANDES, Natacha. O incumprimento das Entidades Beneficiárias de Trabalho. Projeto de Graduação (Licenciatura). Universidade Fernando Pessoa. Licenciatura em Criminologia. Porto, 2012. Disponível em: https://bdigital.ufp.pt/bitstream/10284/3321/3/PG_21910.pdf

JACINTO, Patrícia (Fevereiro de 2017). Trabalho a Favor da Comunidade: De que modo o compromisso legal com a reprovação e a reparação é percebido pelos diversos agentes do sistema de Justiça? Monografia de Estágio do Mestrado em Serviço Social. Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra, 2017. https://estudogeral.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/83912/1/Monografia%20de%20Estágio-%20TFC.%20Patr%C3%ADcia%20Jacinto.pdf

MARTINS, José Edson. PENAS ALTERNATIVAS:(IN) UTILIDADE DO TRABALHO PARA PRESTAÇÃO DE SERVIÇOS À COMUNIDADE. Temporalis, 20(40), 233-249, 2020.

MEARS, Daniel & MESTRE, Julie. Reentrada de Prisioneiros, Emprego, Sinalização e Melhor Identificação de Desisters: Introdução à Edição Especial, Criminologia e Políticas Públicas, 11 (1): 5-15, 2012.

TEDDLIE, Charles & TASHAKKORI, Abbas. Foundations of mixed methods research: integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2009.

Legislação:

Decreto-lei n.º 215/2012, de 28 de setembro, Lei Orgânica da Direção-Geral de Reinserção Social

Decreto-lei nº 375/97, de 24 de dezembro, Prestação de trabalho a favor da comunidade

Most read articles by the same author(s)